Time to make Soweto a municipality

THE Municipal Demarcation Board has been asked to declare Soweto an independent municipality - but many say it's a bad idea.

A nongovernmental organisation, the Hola Bon Renaissance (HBR) Foundation and the Mzansi Youth Business in Coalition on Opportunities group, applied to have Soweto and parts of Roodepoort and Florida declared a local municipality under the City of Joburg Metro.

According to applicants, the advantages of having a municipality in Soweto would include a specific focus on economic development in the area such as improved health and education, business opportunities, job creation and poverty alleviation.

"Soweto is the most populous black urban residential area in the country, with a population of more than 1million. It is setting trends in politics, fashion, music and language," reads the application.

But Roodepoort resident Gerhard Visser said: "Why would I want to be administered by a Sowetan municipality. That sounds sick."

HBR chairperson Preddy Mothopeng said Soweto had all it took to "reclaim its dignity" and become a local municipality.

Demarcation Board chairperson Landiwe Mahlangu confirmed receiving the application but said the board would only look at the application after the local government elections next year.